What Is the Cooperative Program?
The Cooperative Program is the Southern Baptist Convention's unified plan of giving through which cooperating Southern Baptist churches give a percentage of their undesignated receipts in support of their respective state convention and Southern Baptist Convention missions and ministries. You can learn more about the history of The Cooperative Program and why Southern Baptists embrace it at sbc.net/the-cooperative-program.
How Does It Work?
The Cooperative Program is all about Southern Baptists working together to make disciples around the world. Here's how it works:
You Give to Your Church
You give cheerfully and obediently to God through your local church a portion of what he has provided (2 Cor. 9:7). Often, this is called a tithe and represents ten percent of your income (Lev. 27:30, Mal. 3:10).
Your Church Gives to the Arizona Mission Network of Southern Baptists
Every year your church prayerfully decides how much of its undesignated gifts will be committed to reaching people in Arizona and around the world through The Cooperative Program. This amount is then forwarded to your State Baptist Convention.
The AZMN Funds Missions and Ministries in Arizona...
Messengers from your church and other AZMN churches across Arizona decide each year what percentage of Cooperative Program gifts contributed by local congregations stay in your state to support local missions and ministries. The percentage to be forwarded to the SBC for North American and international missions and ministries is also determined at this time.
...and Beyond
Messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting from across the country decide how the gifts received from the states will be distributed among SBC entities. These gifts are used by SBC entities to send and support missionaries, train pastors, and other ministry leaders; provide relief for retired ministers and widows; and address social, moral, and ethical concerns relating to our faith and families.
AZMN Ministries Funded by The Cooperative Program
In order to accomplish its Centennial Vision, the AZMN has adopted a 2023 budget that allocates funds in the following manner:
- 40% of funds continue to the national Southern Baptist Convention, which supports North American and international missionaries, six Southern Baptist seminaries, and other missions and ministries in the U.S. and overseas.
- 6.1% is designated for Gateway Seminary – Arizona Campus to support students being trained for ministry. This amount is actually 7%, less anticipated expenses for the Arizona Campus incurred by the AZMN.
- 7% is designated for the seven ministries of Arizona Baptist Children's Services & Family Ministries to support its mission of providing hope and care to hurting children and families through Christ-centered ministries.
- 5.78% is designated for Christian Challenge, which serves 17 Arizona university and college campuses with a vision to reach the 500,000 collegians in Arizona through partnering with local churches.
- 41.12% provides numerous training events for ministers, 10 events for Hispanic pastors, leaders, and teens, Zona summer camp, and five state facilitators serving AZMN churches in church life, church planting, and missions.